In short: In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), trainee teachers (Lehramtsanwärter) receive a basic amount of about 1,793 euros gross per month at grade A 13, according to the 2026 pay tables. Legal trainees (Rechtsreferendare) receive a maintenance allowance of 1,585.17 euros under the regulation valid from 1 April 2026. Beihilfe (state aid for medical costs) is usually 50 percent. Last updated: October 2026, figures subject to promulgation.
The most important points
- Trainee teachers in NRW receive a basic amount at grade A 13 of 1,793.28 euros gross (status April 2026, subject to promulgation).
- Legal trainees receive a maintenance allowance of 1,585.17 euros under a regulation valid until 28 February 2027.
- Beihilfe is usually 50 percent of eligible costs for civil servants without children. Family allowances are added where the conditions are met.
- According to the sources we reviewed, NRW does not offer a flat-rate Beihilfe. The Beihilfe office gives binding information.
- The basic amounts for teachers change on 1 August 2026. Check which grade applies to your school type.
Which amounts apply to trainee teachers?
The pay table for North Rhine-Westphalia lists the basic amounts for teacher training. At grade A 13, the basic amount is 1,793.28 euros gross per month, and at grade A 12 it is 1,760.37 euros. The figures come from the dbb pay table for April 2026 and remain subject to official promulgation.
| Grade | Basic amount (gross, euros per month) | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| A 13 | 1,793.28 | 01.04.2026 | dbb table, subject to promulgation |
| A 12 | 1,760.37 | 01.04.2026 | dbb table, subject to promulgation |
Which grade applies to your school type is stated in your placement letter. The state agency for pay and pensions (Landesamt für Besoldung und Versorgung NRW) has announced that the basic amounts for primary and lower secondary teaching will rise to grade A 13 on 1 August 2026. The agency does not publish the new amounts on that page, so we do not state a number for this step.
Maintenance allowance for legal trainees
In North Rhine-Westphalia, legal trainees receive a monthly maintenance allowance (Unterhaltsbeihilfe) set by regulation. The basic amount is 1,585.17 euros. Family allowance is added if you meet the conditions. According to the publication, the regulation applies until 28 February 2027, and further steps follow afterwards.
Whether you are a civil servant on probation or in a public-law training relationship (öffentlich-rechtliches Ausbildungsverhältnis) is shown in your notice. This determines how your health insurance is organised. The guide Legal traineeship in North Rhine-Westphalia explains the details.
Beihilfe in NRW: 50 percent as the rule
For civil servants on probation without children, the standard Beihilfe rate is 50 percent of eligible costs. The basis is the Beihilfe regulation of the state. An information sheet on pay and insurance during the training from a university gives the same rate, status November 2025.
Assumption: A medical bill of 400 euros is eligible. At 50 percent, Beihilfe covers 200 euros. The other 200 euros are covered by your supplementary tariff or paid by you. The guide Submitting Beihilfe claims explains the process.
Flat-rate Beihilfe in NRW?
Some states offer a flat-rate Beihilfe, in which the employer pays a fixed monthly amount. For North Rhine-Westphalia, the secondary sources we reviewed do not list this model. The Beihilfe office of the state agency gives binding information. Ask there before you choose any option.
An overview of all states and their differences is available in the guide Flat-rate Beihilfe for trainees.
Health insurance: Beihilfe plus trainee tariff
If you are a civil servant on probation with an entitlement to Beihilfe, you are exempt from statutory health insurance under Section 6 (1) No. 2 SGB V. Beihilfe covers only part of the costs. The rest is usually insured with a private trainee tariff. The tariff needs to match your Beihilfe rate so that large gaps do not remain.
| Component | What it covers | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Beihilfe | Usually 50 percent of eligible costs | Rate, application route and deadlines at the Beihilfe office |
| Supplementary private tariff | The share Beihilfe does not pay | Benefits for dental work, glasses, aids and psychotherapy |
| Voluntary statutory insurance (alternative) | Statutory benefit catalogue, contribution based on pay | Reduced rate of 14.0 percent plus the insurer’s additional contribution |
Voluntary statutory insurance is the alternative. The contribution is paid from your income. With gross pay of 1,800 euros and a total rate of 16.9 percent (assumption: 14.0 percent plus 2.9 percent additional contribution), the health insurance contribution is 304.20 euros per month.
How to plan pay, Beihilfe and tariff together
A simple calculation helps with planning. Your trainee pay or maintenance allowance is your income. Beihilfe reimburses part of your medical costs. Your tariff is your own cover for the rest. Each month, you therefore subtract the tariff premium and a buffer for out-of-pocket costs from your pay.
Assumption: As a legal trainee you receive the maintenance allowance of 1,585.17 euros and pay a tariff of 150 euros per month. Then 1,435.17 euros remain before taxes, insurance and rent are taken into account. Taxes and social contributions must be checked separately, because they depend on your situation and tax class. For net examples, the tax calculator of the Federal Ministry of Finance (bmf-steuerrechner.de) is suitable.
What to do now in NRW
The pay rules in NRW are well documented, but the insurance question depends on your individual case. Before you take out a tariff, look at your notice and the Beihilfe rules. Figures can change when your grade or status changes.
Frequently asked questions
Does the maintenance allowance also apply to trainee teachers?
No. The regulation on the maintenance allowance applies to legal trainees. Trainee teachers receive trainee pay according to the pay table. Your placement letter shows which rule applies to you.
When do the amounts change?
The regulation on the maintenance allowance applies until 28 February 2027. For teacher training, the basic amounts are due to rise on 1 August 2026. Check the figures again before each decision.
Do I have to apply for Beihilfe myself?
Yes. You submit your bills to the Beihilfe office. The deadlines and forms are set out in the office’s documents.
What about family allowance and children?
With children, the Beihilfe rate increases and family allowance is calculated under the applicable rules. The guide Referendariat and children explains the details.
What to do now
- Check in your notice whether you are a trainee teacher or a legal trainee and which grade applies.
- Ask the Beihilfe office for the current rate and confirm that no flat-rate Beihilfe is offered to you.
- Compare a trainee tariff with voluntary statutory insurance using your gross pay.
- Keep all proof of the start and end of your cover.
Related reading
- Trainee teaching in NRW: overview
- Legal traineeship in NRW
- Beihilfe in NRW: rates and suitable private cover
- Trainee tariffs in private health insurance
Sources: Regulation on monthly maintenance allowance in NRW, status 01.04.2026, State agency for pay and pensions NRW, adjustment of teacher pay from 1 August 2026, Section 6 SGB V, exemption from insurance, University information sheet on pay and insurance in training, status November 2025, dbb pay table NRW, status 04/2026 (trade union document) (German sources).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
